The usually unflappable Nome let out a rare scream.
Hearing the commotion, Joey hurriedly put down the body bag and rushed upstairs, where he found Nome collapsed on the floor, his face filled with terror.
"What happened?"
"The book... in that book..." Nome looked dreadful. His voice trembled as though he had seen something horrifying, and he pointed at the sketchbook on the desk.
Joey frowned and shot him a contemptuous look.
And he called himself a Punishment Priest? Scared out of his wits like this?
He walked over to the desk, picked up the sketchbook, and gently opened it. The mocking expression on his face instantly froze.
He had expected this page to contain nothing but the outline of a strange creature with half a face.
Instead, a line of writing stood out on it:
"Daddy, I missed you so much. I've come back to find you."
What was this? He studied the words suspiciously.
Then he turned to the second page.
"Joey Clive died on December 3, 1385."
"Duke Colmy died on September 9, 1375."
"..."
Those first two names alone sent a violent shudder through Joey. His hairs stood on end, and his hands shook uncontrollably around the sketchbook. He lost his balance and stumbled backward, dropping it to the floor.
Duke picked up the sketchbook. He wanted to see just what was inside that could frighten both of them so badly.
After barely a glance, he screamed and flung it away, his face alternating between ashen and pale.
It read: "Big brother, come home."
For the next few minutes, the room fell deathly silent. No one spoke. Finally, Joey broke the oppressive atmosphere with an awkward laugh.
"Come on, don't be like that. Maybe it's just a prank, right?"
Even as he said it, he didn't